Steam-engine



(No Model.)

0. D. ARMSTRONG-.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 593,634. Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

ii i k WITNESSES INVENTUH TTURNEYS.

UN ITED STATES Pmrnrrr nron;

CHARLES D. ARMSTRONG, JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 593,634, datedNovember 16, 1897. Application filed September l6, 1896. Serial No. 606,004. (N0

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHARLEs D. ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of J eff ersonville,in the county of Clark and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts wherever found throughout bot-h views.

This invention relates to steam-engines; and the objects thereof are to provide an improved device of this class which involves simplicity of construction and operation and in which the greatest possible efficiency or working power is secured with a minimum supply of steam; and with these and other objects in view the invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved engine, and Fig. 2 a section on the line 2 2.

In the practice of my invention I provide a suitable frame, centrally of which and at the opposite sides thereof are mounted two cylinders A and A and said cylinders are parallel and are adapted to admit of the alternating induction of steam into each through the steam-pipes a and a which in practice are connected with the same supply-pipe, which is not shown. These cylinders are preferably open at their ends or are not provided with heads in the usual manner, and in each cylinder there are two pistons B and B which are connected by piston-rods O with cranks D, which are connected with the principal shafts E and E of the engine, which are mounted at the opposite ends of the main frame thereof,

said shafts being provided with one of the cranks D at each end, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

On each of the principal shafts E and E is keyed or otherwise secured a beveled gearwheel F,each of which operates in connection with a beveled pinion G, said pinions being firmly secured to a shaft H, which extends longitudinally of the frame, and by reason of this construction the two main shafts E and E must revolve together and these beveled gear-wheels and their pinions must be so adjusted that their action in producing rotation of the main shafts and the reciprocating motion of the pistons shall harmonize with the movement of the engine itself.

On one of the two principalshafts is a flywheel K, which serves the samepurpose as the fly-wheel of an ordinary engine, and on the other is a pulley L, by means of which the power of the engine is transmitted as may be desired, and connected centrally with each of the cylinders A and A is a steam-chest M, in each of which is placed a valve m, which is adapted to control a passage 0 into the cylinder and another passage 0 which communicates with the eXhaust-pipe O and said pipes 0 one of which is provided for each steam-chest, communicate with a main exhaust-pipe O and each of the VEtlVGS m is controlled by a valve-rod P, each of which connects with a crank P secured to one end of a suitably-mounted shaft P the other end of which is provided with another crank P to which is secured a pitman or crank rod P and one of these pitman or crank rods is connected with an eccentric R on the main shaft E and the other with a similar eccentric R on the main shaft E The engine is operated by admitting the steam between the pistons of each cylinder alternately, thus successively forcing the pistons in each cylinder apart and imparting the motion through the various connections to the main shafts E and E and the connections are so arranged that when the pistons in one cylinder are at the limit of their inward movement those in the other cylinder are at the limit of their outward movement, and in this way the forcing apart of each pair of pistons brings the other pair back into proper position for the next introduction of steam, and both the induction and the exhaust valves may be worked or operated by any method now in use,'-according to convenience, and any desired form of governor may be employed.

By admitting the steam between two pistons, as herein described, the same clearance serves for both, and in this way there is less waste than in any other method of working an equal amount of steam, and by taking from the cylinder-head the reactionary pressure of the steam and throwing it on apair of pistons moving at the same time in opposite directions all strain is removed from the cylinder and there is no tendency to work it loose or to force it out of its alinement.

Another advantage consists in the fact that the steam, when permitted to expand in opposite directions at the same time, undergoes a more complete and rapid expansion, thus tending, as the tests show, to promote economy and to quicken the stroke, and the best results will be obtained when the valves are so set as to admit the steam alternately between each pair of pistons as nearly as possible at the precise moment when the pistons between which it is admitted are at the limit of their inward stroke or nearest to each other and are just ready to begin to recede or to begin their outward movement.

My improved engine is perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it is evident that changes in and modifications of the construction herein described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its of two parallel cylinders mounted thereon and a main shaft at each end thereof, a piston-rod mounted in each of said cylinders, said piston-rods being connected with cranks secured to the opposite ends of the adjacent main shaft, and the pistons in the other ends of said cylinders being provided with pistonrods which are connected with cranks secured to the opposite ends of the other main shaft, and each of said main shafts being provided with a beveled gear-Wheel, and a rod mounted longitudinally of the frame and provided at its opposite ends with a beveled gear whereby the main shafts revolve together, and each of said cylinders being provided with a steam-chest arranged centrally thereof, and with means for admitting steam thereinto and into the cylinders, said means consisting of a valve, one of which is in operative connection with one of the main shafts, and the other with the other main shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention Ihave signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of September, 1896.

CHARLES D. ARMSTRONG.

\Vitnesses:

THos. B. RADER, FIELDING L. VVILsoN. 

